by Phally Chroy
What an experience…walking shoulder to shoulder during the water festival in Cambodia’s capital. This is a time when most villagers make their pilgrimage to the city. Among the six million people who were in Phnom Penh, I was just one of the many attending the free concerts near the independent monument. It was very difficult getting around and getting a good view really meant being able to see–anything– from where you stood.
by James Collins
Aside from the National Championships, I haven’t gotten to see many performances from the bands I’ve been working with. The field bands are often hired to play at weddings, parades, sporting events and other community functions, but I’ve spent most of my time at rehearsals in the schoolyards. Recently, however, I’ve been lucky to catch a few shows and it’s been great to see how much of an impact the bands can have on their communities. I loved seeing the way the kids express themselves in a performance setting and I’m excited now about how I can help them to improve further.
Here is a clip from a performance I attended in Port Elizabeth. The band marched for the reopening of a major road that had recently undergone some renovations. One piece they played really got the crowd going. There are certain songs in South Africa that just seem to get everyone singing and dancing.
This next clip is from a performance in Stellenbosch (just outside of Cape Town). Assembling the steel drums and marimbas from two field bands in the area, they call this group the “jazz band”. The performance was for a school board event announcing the opening of several new focus schools in the community.
Click here to email James with your questions or comments
The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.
by James Collins
I’ve been on the road now for almost three weeks and it has been a truly amazing experience. From the gnarled baobab trees of Musina on the Zimbabwean border, to the diamond mines of Kimberley in the heartland and the towering cliffs of Cape Town on the Atlantic coast, I’ve managed to cover quite a bit of ground. I’ve seen more than a few breathtaking sights and I’ve met some wonderful new friends along the way. Working with the field bands in their communities has been a very special experience and my appreciation and understanding of this country are constantly growing. But, by far the most important thing I’ve gained from this journey has been a love for teaching.
by James Collins
I’ve decided to leave Johannesburg for the time being to explore South Africa from the open road. I’ve had a great time in Joburg so far, but I’d like to see more of the country before deciding where to base myself for the rest of the year. I plan to visit as many field bands as possible along the way, and if all goes well, I will cover most of the country in just one month.
I’m excited to visit the bands and to meet the tutors and see how they work with the kids. From what I’ve seen so far, each band is very distinctive. Some run on a tight schedule, while others are pretty loose. Some try to experiment with their performances, while others choose to “go with the flow”. Some place a strong focus on teaching life skills, while others stick more closely to the music. There are a lot of different teaching styles and approaches in use and I’m hoping to learn from the different bands and see what works best. I think my teaching will benefit greatly from the experience. I’m also looking forward to meeting some teachers from the Norwegian Peace Corps who are working with the field bands in Limpopo (a province in the northeast). Some of them have been here for over a year, so I’m sure I can learn quite a bit from them.
I’ll be sure to send some updates and hopefully a few videos from the road. Thanks for all your recent comments! Keep them coming and let me know if you would like to see anything in particular on the blog.
Click here to email James with your questions or comments
The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.
by James Collins
I’ve finally managed to put together a video from the National Championships. It’s split into two parts to reflect each day of competition (and so that I could have files small enough to send over my wimpy and temperamental internet connection). Let me know what you think!
by James Collins
It’s amazing how a game as rough as rugby can unite a nation. Saturday night was the Rugby World Cup Final between England and South Africa and I had the lucky opportunity to be at the prime viewing spot for South African fans. It was an amazing experience to see such passion and enthusiasm for a sport I know so little about. People were going berserk, flags waved everywhere and the level of excitement was spectacular. Nelson Mandela even showed up to voice his support for the Springboks, the South African team. Everyone chanted his name in harmony.
by James Collins
The championships were seriously amazing. Nearly 2000 kids came from all over South Africa to partake in two days of creative events and competition. For most, it was the farthest they had ever traveled and, for some, the first time they had ever left home. There was a prescribed piece competition where each band had to perform the same piece for the judges. There were solo and ensemble competitions as well, where dancers and musicians could compete in categories ranging from solo marimba, to ensemble dance and drumline. Then there was the main event: each band had to put on a 12-minute show to compete for top honors in one of two divisions; the “baby bands”, which were established less than two years ago, and the veteran bands which have been around for two or more years.
